Slug casting machine



1935. A TOU E 2,023,557

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1954 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY v [IVVENTOR E G U 0 T S J A SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 f A INVENTOR I BY Z M I I 2 770x225 Y;

Dec. 10, 1935. A. J. STOUGES 2,023,557

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR w I. 6 TN m m IQINTQ -m %CNTKCiWQIZS w 2 QR m mm Dec. 10, 1935. A STQUGES I 2,023,557

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 i INVENTOR B ATTOR E YI Dec..l0, 1935. A. J..STOUGES SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 1 fi N A 4 mm fi @HWWEM KWVE w w I N N mw m k INVENTOR ZTTORZEYJ 4 Dec. 10, 1935. A. J. STOUGES SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1954 y 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 ruihun H I INVENTOR TTO 5Y6- Patented Dec. 10, 1935 lTED STATE lA'iN'l' QFFICE SLUG CASTING MACHINE Application June 22, 1934, Serial No. 731,832

29 Claims.

This invention relates to slug casting machines and is directed to certain improvements which will adapt the machine to accommodate hand sticks varying in form in accordance with different forms of matrices, as for instance the regular linotype matrices formed with projecting ears on their opposite edges, large special matrices devoid 'of such projecting ears, and other special matrices formed with projecting cars at their upper and lower ends (commonly known as Ludlow matrices).

In the use of the improved machine, the matrices are composed in line in a hand stick which is then placed in a holder in the machine and thereafter presented automatically to the casting mechanism which is equipped with molds of different forms to cooperate with the different forms of matrices employed. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the holder is the vertically movable transporter or first elevator which has a front plate adapted to accommodate several of the difierent forms of hand sticks, and which is arranged to be equipped with a removable section to adapt it to hold other forms of hand sticks.

Each of the hand sticks is equipped with a movable end wall and mechanism for preliminarily appling clamping pressure to the line composed therein through said wall to facilitate handling prior to placing the hand stick in the machine. The hand stick is then placed upon a table in endwise alinement, with the first elevator or transporter and bodily inserted therein. The transporter thereupon descends to position the hand stick between the vise jaws mounted in the vise frame, the line brought into registry with the mold by the adjustment of the vise jaws, which at the same time adjust the clamping pressure on the line through the movable end wall of the stick, the mold disc moved forwardly to bring the face of the mold in contact with the casting edges of the matrices, and the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon. After the casting operation, the elevator ascends to its normal position and the hand stick ejected from the transporter by a manually operable slide.

The invention also contemplates further improvements, as for instance, a keeper plate in one form of hand stick, automatically adjustable into engagement with notches provided in the alining surfaces of the matrices used therewith to prevent the latter from being displaced from the hand stick during casting, an adjustable plate on the table to assist in alining the hand stick with the transporter and which is adjusted to active position when the transporter is provided with the removable section and to inactive position when not so provided, and improvements in the transporter arresting blocks, which not only permit the composed line to be presented to the mold at any desired casting level depending upon the form and size of the matrices and the particular mold in use, but which also permits the faces of the slugs to be adjusted transversely of the mold slot by any amount desired, as for instance, in casting slugs with large type faces and small body sizes.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a portion of the improved machine, showing a hand stick in position for delivery to the transporter, and wherein the position of the stick in the transporter is indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of part of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1, and showing the general arrangement of the parts and the stick in front of the mold before casting;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the stick positioned between the vise jaws;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, showing the stick clamped between the vise jaws;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the first elevator and the casting mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a rear view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5, the transporter being broken away to show details of construction;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the removable transporter section for sustaining certain of the different forms of sticks used;

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are perspective views of the different forms of matrices employed; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a reversible spacer used with the form of matrix shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is an elevation of one of the hand sticks employed, parts being broken away to show details of construction;

Fig. 14 is an end view of the stick shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is an elevation, partly in section, of another form of hand stick;

Fig. 16 is an end view of the hand stick shown in Fig. 15;

Figs. Hand 18 are sectional views through the transporter, showing the different forms of sticks employed for two different sizes of one special form of matrix; 7

Figs. 19 and 20 are sectional views through the transporter, showing the different forms of sticks employed for the regular linotype matrices;

Figs. 21 and 22 are sectional views, partly in elevation, showing the transporter in its upper or normal position, and showing also two special forms of matrices, one used with and the other without the transporter removable section;

Fig. 23 is a top plan View of one form of dial plate for adjusting the position of the banking stops in accordance with the different forms of matrices employed;

Fig. 24 is a side view, partly in section, of the dial plate shown in Fig. 23;

Figs. 25 and 26 show, respectively, the opposite faces of a different form of dial plate;

Figs. 27 and 28 are, respectively, side views, partly in section, of the dial plates shown in Figs. 25 and 26, illustrating the method of mounting the same; and.

Fig. 29is a view of the casting edges of four matrices, showing the difference in alinement of the matrices depending upon the length of the lower case descenders.

The disc A, see Fig. 1, is rotatably mounted, as usual, on a fore-and-aft mold slide (not shown), and is equipped with four slotted molds,

any selected one of which may be brought into use by the rotary adjustment of the disc A by the manual operation of the usual driving pinion A As the machine is started, the mold disc is given a quarter turn in a counter-clockwise direction (looking from the front of the machine) to locate the selected mold in the casting position. The first elevator or transporter B then descends to position a line of matrices supported in a hand stick in the transporter (previously inserted therein) in front of the active mold, whereupon the line is justified in the stick between a pair of clamping jaws C C mounted in the fixed vertically disposed vise frame D. The mold slide is now moved forward to bring the active mold up against the composed line, thereby closing the mold slot at the front, and the metal pot is like- Wise advanced from its'normal position behind the disc A to bring the mouthpiecethereof up against the back of the mold, thereby closing the mold slot at the rear. The descent of the pot plungers immediately follows and molten metal is ejected from the pot into the mold to produce the slug. After the casting operation, the pot and mold are caused to recede, the transporter B is raised, and the active mold is carried to the slug ejecting-position. As the machine completes the cycle of operation, the slug is ejected from the mold and the transporter B is finally arrested in its original or uppermost position.

The regular matrices Y and Y (see Figs. 11, 19 and 20) are formed with the upper projecting ears y and the lower projecting ears W. The matrices Y are provided with two superposed characters g confined to the smaller text fonts ranging below 14 pt., while thematrices Y are provided with but a single character 1 confined, to the larger head-letter and displayrfonts above. 14 pt. The characters of the regular matrix fonts are positioned as usual, and for reasons well known, with reference to a common datum line for top alinement, whereas the characters of the special fonts X, X and which have a range up to '72 pt. in height in the instance of the matrices X and up to 144 pt. in height in the instance of the matrices X, are positioned with reference to a common datum line for base alinement, so that the matrices may be mixed indiscriminately in the same line, irrespective of the height of their individual characters.

The special matrices X (Figs. 9 and 21) are 5 formed on their bottom edges with alining surfaces x and in their casting edges with recesses or routing notches m which are preferably of a depth to compensate for the reduced depth of special molds used with these matrices. The spe- 1O cial matrices X are further formed in their bottom alining edges with transverse notches M, which are' adapted to receive the top edge of a rail member provided in the hand stick in which these matrices X are composed, and which acts 15 to prevent displacement of the matrices from their supporting ledges in the hand stick during the casting operation.

The special matrices X (Fig. 22) are formed in their rear edges with recesses 113 the upper faces 20 of which present under alining surfaces as at the same level as the alining edges r of the special matrices X The alining surfaces 3: are likewise provided with transverse notches :0 corresponding to the notches :6 in the matrices X and for 25 the same purpose. The matrices X are also formed in their casting edges with recesses or routing notches 11: These recesses extend considerably below the alining surfaces 0: to accommodate the larger characters, and, in the front 30 or casting edges and adjacent sides thereof, these matrices may further be provided with walls extending upwardly from the lower edges slightly beyond the level of the alining surfaces 111 ,50 that when these larger matrices are composed in line 35 with the matrices X the routing notches or recesses therein are closed off in that portion which .extends below the base ofan adjacent matrix to prevent metal squirts. Matrices of this form are more specifically described in my copending 40 application, Serial No. 670,712, filed May 12, 1933.

Both the matrices X and X are further provided in their upper edges with recesses .71 adapted to receive the lower edge of the line transporter back plate, which, together with the rails in the 45 hand sticks engaging in the notches :0 and x serve to retain the matrices against displacement from the stick.

A blank matrix or spacer element X for use with the special matrices X is illustrated in Fig. 50 12. This spacer element is reversible and for this purpose is provided in its lower edge with a pair of recesses or notches and in its upper edge with a pair of recesses or notches as, one each of the notches 12 and x alining with the notches r and m of the special matrices when composed in line therewith. The spacer element X is further provided in its upper edge with a lug x projecting above the upper edges of the matrices composed in line therewith to facilitate handling.

The special or Ludlow matrices Z, Z (Figs. 10, 1'7 and 18) are formed on their upper edges with upwardly projecting ears a and on their lower edges with alining surfaces 2 and downwardly projecting ears 2 the ears 2 and 2 serving to position the matrices in the hand stick. The matrices Z, Z are also provided in their casting edges with recesses or routing notches 2 which are likewiseof a depth to compensate for the reduced depth of the special molds used with these matrices.

The line transporter or first elevator B (Fig. l and Fig. 5) comprises the elongated vertically disposed body portion B slidably mounted in the fixed vise frame D, the top fiange B which overhangs said frame, and the horizontally disposed head portion B which depends from the rear edge of the flange B The head portion B wherein the hand sticks are sustained, consists of the front and rear side walls B and B and intermediate spacing blocks B and B" positioned at opposite ends thereof.

The hand sticks, of which there are six different forms illustrated herein to sustain the matrices of different forms, are transferred from a table M arranged at the normal transporter level endwise into the transporter from the right. As a stick is inserted in the transporter, it is located endwise therein by a block b in a position to bring it between the customary vise jaws C C when the transporter B descends to present the composed line to the mold. The transporter is arrested in its descent in different positions dependent upon the particular form and size of matrices in use. More will be said of this later.

Certain forms of hand sticks, as for instance, those used with the special matrices X and the regular matrices Y, Y are supported directly in the transporter, whereas those used with the special matrices X Z and Z require the presence of a removable filler section E to adapt the transporter to receive the hand sticks of these latter forms. To support the hand sticks or the removable section E, as the case may be, there is provided in the front wall B of the transporter, a recess B presenting a horizontal supporting ledge 13 at the bottom and a horizontal upstanding keeper plate 13 at the outer edge of the ledge.

The removable filler section E (see Figs. 5 and 8) is substantially L-shape in cross section and includes in part a body portion E of the same width as the transporter recess 3*, a lower horizontal portion E arranged to rest upon the supporting ledge B of the transporter and provided with a longitudinal recess E in which the keeper plate B engages to hold the removable filler section E in position. The lower portion E of the section E likewise presents a supporting ledge E formed at its outer edge with an upstanding keeper E to sustain the hand sticks which require the presence of the removable section E. The removable section E is detachably secured against endwise displacement in the transporter, and for this purpose it is provided at its left end (looking at the machine from the front) with an extension E adapted to underlie the spacer member B of the transporter and equipped at its outer end with a bevelled surface E and a notch E which cooperates with a retractable pin 12 extending vertically through the front wall portion 13 of the transporter immediately above the recess B The retractable pin 1) is slidably mounted in a recess b and includes generally an enlarged portion 12 engaging the walls of the recess, a smaller shank portion 17 encircled by a compression spring b engaging between the upper end of the enlarged portion b and the upper end of the recess, and a knurled button or handle b screwed to the shank b at its upper end and which rests upon the upper face of the transporter, thus determining the lowermost position of the pin. As the removable section E is inserted in the transporter from the left, the pin 1) will ride up the bevelled surface E against the compression of the spring b and when the pin b registers with the notch if it will engage therein and hold the filler section E against endwise movement in the transporter. To remove the filler section E, it is necessary only to pull up on the button b thereby withdrawing the pin from the notch E and freeing the filler plate so that it may be withdrawn endwise from the transporter. 5

A hand stick F for use with the special matrices X is shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 21, and includes in part a top and a bottom rail F and F a rear closing plate F a pair of fixed end walls F and F notched on their rear edges to receive the rails 10 F F to which the end walls are secured, and a movable line adjusting wall member F adjustably held in the stick by a headed pin F threaded into the movable wall member )3 and extending through a bushing member F threaded through 15 the fixed wall member F When a line has been composed in the stick, initial pressure for locking it therein is applied by screwing up on the bushing F which butts against the wall member F This pressure, of course. may not be sufficient for proper justification of the line, but the deficiency, if any, is supplied by the right hand jaw C which during the alinement of the composed line with the mold slot prior to casting acts on the pin F to adjust the clamping pressure independently of the bushing F As clearly shown in Fig. 13, the bushing member l? is formed with a plain neck portion F traversed at its lower side by a detachable plate P, which latter serves by engagement with the threaded portion to prevent the bushing member from being unscrewed far enough to engage the right-hand jaw when the hand stick is placed in position for casting. In this way the casting is always controlled by the headed pin F as intended.

The front edges of the end walls F F as well as the movable plate F register with the front or casting edges of th matrices, the end wall F and the movable wall member F acting to close the line of matrices at the ends. Like the matrices, the end walls F F and the movable wall member F are provided in their front upper portions with recesses or notches F to fit the rear wall B of the transporter and which assists in holding the stick in the transporter. The end walls F, F terminate at their lower edges slightly above the bottom surface of the lower rail F thus providing the necessary clearance for the keeper element E of the removable section E to engage the rail as shown in Fig. 21. The bottom edge of the lower rail F constitutes the alining surface of the hand stick, and rests in service on the supporting ledge E of the removable filler section E.

In order to sustain the matrices X against displacement from the hand stick F during a casting operation, there is provided, in the lower rail member F an adjustable keeper plate F arranged for limited parallel movement into and out of engagement with the notches x in the matrices X when the latter are composed in line in the hand stick. The keeper plate F is somewhat longer than the hand stick F and in its normal or retracted position extends beyond the left end thereof (looking from the front of the machine). The rail F is made in two sections f f held in parallel spaced relation by a pair of spacer members i and the keeper F is mounted between the sections and formed with a corresponding pair of notches f straddling the spacers and somewhat larger in size to permit a limited endwise movement of the keeper member. When the hand stick is inserted in the transporter, the keeper F banks against the block b which is screwed and dowelled to the transporter front wall B on the inner face thereof just above the supporting ledge B and is moved thereby to the right and forced upwardly into active position wherein it engages in the notches In Figs; 15, 16 and 17, there is illustrated a hand stick G for use with the special (Ludlow) matrices Z Like the hand stick F, it is provided with top and bottom rails G G fixed end walls G G and an adjustable end wall mechanism G for applying clamping pressure on the line. In this stick, however, the matrices are inserted from the rear, the front faces of the ears 2 banking against the upper and lower rails at the rear. As shown in Fig. 16, the front edges of the end walls G G are provided at the top with notches G similar to and fort-he same purpose as the corresponding notches F in the hand stick F, while the lower edges of said end Walls together with the bottom of the rail G constitute an alining surface G for the stick which rests upon the supporting ledge E of the removable section E of the transporter. In the alining surface G there is also provided a notch Gr extending longitudinally of the stick, and which receives the upstanding keeper element E of the removable section to prevent the stick from being displaced from the transporter during a casting operation. It will be noted also,

that the end walls G G, as well as the movable plate G have rear extensions G to conform to the rear portions of the matrices X that extend beyond the rails.

The stick I-I (Fig. 18) for use with the large special matrices Z (also the Ludlow type) is in all respects similar to the stick G just described, except that the lower rail member H is narrower than the corresponding rail member G of the stick G, thus providing a larger space between the rail members to accommodate the larger matrices.

The hand stick J (see Fig. 22) for use with the large special matrices X is formed with a closed back plate J of substantial thickness, end walls as in the hand sticks previously described, and a bottom rail member J screwed to the back plate and having a projecting tongue J at its upper edge to engage in the notches :c" of the matrices X to prevent them from being dis-.

placed from the stick during a casting operation. In this instance, the upper rail member is dispensed with and the hand stick is maintained in the transporter by the rear wall 13 thereof engaging in the notches provided in the front or casting edges of the matrices and corresponding notches in the end plates of the stick. The removable section E is d spensed with when the hand stick J is used. The bottom of the back plate J and of the bottom rail member J constitute the alining surface of the stick and rest directly on the supporting ledge B of the transporter head portion E the keeper B engaging in a notch J 4 provided in the lower front edge of the rail member J to prevent the stick from being displaced from the transporter. If desired, the rear wall of the hand stick may be recessed as at J to secure lightness.

The hand stick K for use with the regular two-letter matrices Y (Fig. 19) is likewise inserted directly in the transporter B without the use of the removable section E, and comprises generally the end walls K as in the hand sticks previously described, and a back wall K pro- 5 vided near its lower end with a pair of rails K K to support the matrices Yeither at the upper or lower casting levels. The back wall K is also provided in its upper portion with a 1ongitudinal recess K of sufficient width to accommodate the upper ears y of the matrices Y when composed either at the upper or lower level. When the regular linotype matrices Y are used. the transporter head B is equipped with a removable auxiliary back plate B detachably con- 15 nected by means of a tongue and groove to the rear wall B thereof. The plate B is wider than the rear wall B so that the lower edge thereof, when the plate is attached, is just below the upper projecting ears y of the matrices when supported by the lower ledge K The removable auxiliary plate B shown in Fig. 19, is providedat its lower edge with a lateral extension D engaging beneath the front upper ears g of the matrices to render additional support during casting. The bottom of the back wall K constitutes the alining surface of the stick and rests directly upon the supporting ledge B of the transporter and is held against displacement therefrom by. the keeper plate B which engages the front of the back plate adjacentits lower edge.

The hand stick L (see Fig. 20), for use with the regular head-letter matrices Y is quite similar to the stick K just described, differing only in that there is provided but a single rail L in the back plate L for supporting the matrices Y1 and arranged at the same level as the upper rail K in the stick K, since, as is well known, the headletter matrices are always composed at the upper level in the commercial linotype machine. The recess L adjacent the upper portion of the stick which receives the upper projecting ears 11 of the matrices is narrower than the corresponding recess K in the stick K, since matrices are composed at one level only in the stick L. The bottom of the back plate L constitutes the alining surface for the hand stick which rests directly on the supporting ledge B of the transporter, the back plate L being somewhat thicker than the back plate K of the sticks K, and provided at its lower front edge with a longitudinal recess L to receive the keeper B10. As is the case When the stick K is used, the back plate B of the transporter head is equipped with a removable auxiliary plate B detachably connected by means of a tongue and groove joint, and which likewise is wider than the back plate B and extends below the lower edge thereof to a level corresponding to that of the under side of the upper projecting ears y of the matrices Y1 composed in the stick to lend additional support thereto.

At this point it may be stated that all of the hand sticks may be equipped adjacent their upper and lower edges with scales marked off in ems as an aid to the composer.

As previously stated, the stick with its composed line of matrices is alined with the transporter and inserted endwise therein from the right end. To facilitate this operation, there is provided a bracket M secured to the table M and provided with a vertical front face M and, when the hand sticks J, K and L are used (those for the regular matrices Y, Y and the large special matrices X), they are placed with their alining surfaces in contact with the table and with the casting edges of the matrices in contact with the front face M of the bracket, in which position the sticks are in endwise alinement with the transporter. When the sticks F, G and H are used, however, (those wherein the special matrices X Z and Z are composed) the traneporter head B is provided with the removable section E, and as a consequence such sticks must be positioned at a higher level to be in proper alinement for transfer. For this purpose, there is provided in the base of the bracket M a slidable plate M adjustable from a position wherein its front edge m is flush with the vertical face M (Fig. 22) to a position wherein its front edge is in line with the rear face of the removable section E (see Fig. 21). The plate M is of the same thickness as the bottom portion E of the removable section. Thus, in order to aline the sticks F, G and H at the proper level for transfer to the transporter, the removable section E being in place, it is necessary only to adjust the plate M to its forward position, and place the sticks with their alining surfaces in contact therewith and with their casting edges in contact with the front face M of the bracket M as in the case of the sticks previously referred to. The adjustment of. the plate from one position to another is facilitated by a stud M projecting from the top of the plate M and through a slot M provided in the lower portion of the bracket member M Preparatory to the casting operation, and after the transporter has descended to present the line to the mold, the stick is clamped tightly between the vise jaws C C and is positioned thereby endwise so as to cause the line properly to register with the end Walls of the mold slot. This operation is effected by a vertical reciprocatory wedge bar C through the medium of a short horizontal slide rod C against which the left hand jaw C abuts.

The construction and operation of the wedge bar for causing the line to register with the mold slot is adequately set forth in my copending application, Serial No. 545,398, filed June 19, 1931, and need not be described in detail here again. Suffice it to say, when the bar C is raised, the jaw C is forced positively thereby to the right or toward the opposing jaw C whereas when the bar is lowered, the jaw C is forced to the left or returned to its original position by resilient means not shown. The upward movement of the bar C (in the present instance a positive one) is limited by a stop screw (see Figs. 1 and 3) banking against a bracket C which guides the rod C and hence the jaw C is always moved a definite distance by the bar, so as to locate the left end of a line properly composed in the hand stick in registry with the left end of the mold slot.

The movement of the left hand jaw C is imparted to the hand stick and thence through the line, the movable end wall F (assuming the stick F is in use), and the pin F to the right hand jaw C and, if the line is of proper length, the right hand jaw is adapted to yield toward the right against the tension of a spring C which normally holds it towards the left, and offers the resistance necessary for the justification of the line. It will be recalled that the operator applies an initial clamping pressure to the line by means of the bushing F prior to the insertion of the stick in the transporter, but, as this is a manual adjustment, there is no way of telling whether or not the clamping pressure applied is sufficient. The right hand jaw C acting through the pin F and the movable wall F automatically applies additional pressure independently of that applied by the bushing F in the event the initial pressure is not sufficient. In yielding, the jaw C is adapted to actuate a safety pump stop lever C common to the commercial linotype machines, and which when actuated permits the cycle of operations to proceed, the active mold being moved up against the matrix line and the casting operation allowed to take place. If the pump stop lever C is not actuated by the yielding jaw C the casting operation cannot proceed. The range of movement of the right hand jaw C is in excess of that required to operate the pump stop lever, thus compensating for slight variations in the lengths of lines below the maximum length permitted by the hand stick. In other words, the arrangement is such, that the pump stop lever is operated through the line of matrices irrespective of the movement of the hand stick.

After the casting operation is completed, the first elevator ascends to the level of the table, and the stick ejected from the right hand end thereof (the end in which it was inserted), the opposite end being closed off for reasons of safety when the elevator is in its uppermost position by a vertical plate M suitably fastened to the table. The ejection of the hand stick is effected by a hand operable slide B (see Figs. 6 and '7) which includes a body portion b arranged to slide upon the upper face of the elevator head B a vertical handle 1) extending upwardly from the body portion, and 9. depending vertical portion b arranged to slide in the space between the front and rear walls 3*, B of the elevator head and having a finger b at its lower end adapted to extend somewhat below the top edges of the upper rails of the hand sticks. With this arrangement, the slide B is always located to the left of the hand stick in the elevator and to eject the ,stick it is necessary only for the operator to grasp the handle b and push it to the right, whereupon the finger 11 engages the end of the hand stick and pushes it out of the transporter.

As described in my application, Serial No. 545,- 398, previously referred to, the special matrices X are provided in their casting edges with intaglio characters formed thereon for common base alinement. Furthermore, the inner casting surfaces of the molds for use therewith, regardless of size, are all equidistant from the axis of the mold disc A, the molds being adjustable in the usual way for the different font sizes by the insertion of liners between the base and head portions of the mold and at the ends thereof. As a consequence, composed lines of matrices of different font sizes must be presented to their respective molds at different casting levels. Then, too, there is the so-called high and low alinement for the matrices X depending upon the length of the lower case descenders. Thus in Fig. 29, there are represented four matrices, say of 48 pt. size, wherein the characters are formed for base alinement but wherein the datum line uu for the matrices I and 2 is lower down than the datum line 2212 of the matrices 3 and 4, due primarily to the difference in length of the descenders of matrices 2 and 4. Although the distance between the bottom of the letter P and the top of the letter A is the same in both cases (u v the distance a (that between the top of the letter A in the matrix I and its lower alining surface) is greater than the corresponding disance v of the matrix 3, and consequently a composed line of matrices I, 2 must be presented to 'the mold at a lowerlevel than a composed line of the matrices 3, 4. V 1

The special matrices Z and Z likewise must be presented to the mold at different casting levels depending upon their size, but as the characters provided in the casting edges of these matrices are formed for center alinement,.the difference in level at which composed lines of the different fonts are presented to the mold will vary from the difference in level at which corresponding sizes of the special matrices X are presented.

The regular linotype matrices Y because of the doublecharacters on their casting edges are presented to the mold at two different casting levels,'but as the stick K in which they are composed is equipped with upper and lower rails it is necessary only to provide for arresting the elevator B at one level whenthe matrices Y are employed and the same level is usedfor the headletter matrices Y The matrices X ranging between '72 pt. and 144 pt. are usually cast on a '72 pt. slug and consequently no special provision need be made for these.

In addition to the many different casting levels at which the matrices of the different forms and sizes must be presented to the mold, it may also be desired to cast large faces on slugs of smaller body sizes (slugs with overhanging faces) as for instance a 72 pt. face on a 12.pt. body size, and it may further be desired to form the body portion of the slug at either edge of the face or at any other intermediate point.

The means. herein provided for locating the matrices of the different forms and various font sizes in proper casting relation to the corresponding molds, include a pair of duplicate banking blocks D D arranged to cooperate with the banking screws B of the transporter B. Each of said blocks slopes continuously and evenly from the high point at the left to the low point at the right, so that by adjusting the blocks laterally-of the transporter B, the latter may be,

arrested in its descent to position a composed line carried thereby at any desired casting level.

The blocks D D are carried by a long thin plate D slidably mounted, by means of retaining gibs or guideways D upon the vise cap D and capable of adjustment to any desired position beneath thebanking screws'B The machine is equipped with the usual control rod N of the vise automatic and in order that it may be actuated as required in any ad justed position of the blocks D D there is employed a third sloping block D (an exact du-' plicate of the blocks D D carried by the plate D and hingedly mounted at the back in suitable bearings rising from said plate, and normally resting at the front'upon the upper end of the rod N (Fi .5). 7

As the plate D is adjusted to bring any point of the blocks D D beneath the banking screws B of the transporter, the corresponding point of the block D will be .positioned directly beneath the third screw B in the overhead flange B of the transporten'so that when the transporter is arrested in casting position by the banking of the screws B upon the blocks D and D the screw B will depress the blocks D and thereby actuate the rod N. v

The plate D (see Figs. 1 and 26) is adjusted by means of a dial plate D" fixed at the upper end of a stub shaft D rotatably mounted in a bracket D screwed to the vise cap D and having secured thereto, a pinion D meshing with a rack D fixed to the plate D The dial is held in its adjusted position by a pin (1 carried in a hole (1 drilled in the bracket D and spring pressed into a groove d in the peripheral edge of the dial plate. The force of the spring is ordinarily sufficient to cause the pin d to hold the dial against creeping, but where a number of recasts are to be made, the dial may be locked in position by a thumb screw (1 threaded into the hole (1 at its outer end, and having a pin extension 017 arranged to engage the rear face of the pin it firmly to. force the latter against the dial.

Two forms of dials are shown, the one represented in Figs. 23 and 24, being permanently fixed in place and having dial indications on one face only, and the other represented in Figs. 25 to 28 including a reversible dial plate d either face of which may be turned uppermost depending upon the matrices to be used. In the plate d there is provided a hole d, for registration with a pin (1 on the body portion D of the dial element, so as to insure the proper positioning of the banking block members D D when any dial indication registers with a pointer :1 The pointer d is hinged to the bracket D so as to permit the removal and reversal of the plate (1 On each dial face there is provided a scale graduated in type points starting from zero and running to 60. When the zero point of the scale is opposite the indicator d the highest points of the banking blocks D D will register with the banking screws B on the transporter so as to arrest the elevator in its uppermost position and, for any other position of the dial, the elevator will be arrested at a correspondingly lower point, the dial and consequently the banking blocks between their maximum and minimum heights having a range of 60 pts. Consequently, when it is desired to oifset the face of a slug from the body portion, as, for instance, in casting a 72 pt. face upon a 12 pt. body, the point scale will give an immediate indication of the amount of ofiset required to bring the body portion of the slug at any desired position with reference to the face thereof.

The outermost set of indications on the dial face shown in Fig. 23 are for use in connection with the special matrices Z and Z whereas the inner set of indications are for use in connection with the special matrices X Thus, when it is desired to cast a 60 pt. slug from the special matrices Z (Ludlow type) 60 on the outer scale is set opposite the indicator (i whereupon the banking blocks D and D will be positioned properly to arrest the elevator to bring the matrices in proper ,alinement with the mold, and, in like manner, when it is desired to use 60 pt. matrices of the special type X the mark 60 or 60 is used, as the case may be (depending upon whether the characters on the matrices are formed for high or low alinement).

For the regular linotype matrices; a composed line is properly brought into register with the mold when the indication Reg. Lino. Mats." is turned to register with the indicator d As stated heretofore, the dial shown in Figs. 24 and 25 is reversible, one face being marked with indications for use with the large special matrices X and the regular linotype matrices, whereas the reverse side is marked with indications for use with the special matrices Z and Z (Ludlow matrices) As a result of the banking block and dialarrangement, it will be seen that substantially all types of matrices, regardless of their form or size, and which must be presented to the mold at different casting levels, may be very readily handled in the present machine.

In the accompanying drawings the invention has been shown merely in preferred form and by way of example, but it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made therein and in its mode of application without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or arrangement, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a slug casting machine adapted to be equipped with a plurality of interchangeable hand sticks difiering in form tosustain matrices of diiferent forms, a holder for presenting a selected hand stick in operative relation to the mold, said holder being alterable in form to accommodate the different hand sticks.

2. In a slug casting machine adapted to be equipped with hand sticks of different forms containing matrices of different forms, the combination or" a holder for presenting a hand stick with its composed line of matrices in operative relation to the mold, and means for adapting the holder to support the hand sticks of difierent forms.

3. In a slug casting machine adapted to be equipped with hand sticks of diiferent forms containing matrices of diiferent forms, the combination of a holder for presenting a hand stick with its composed line of matrices in operative relation to the mold and having a pair of walls between which the hand stick is sustained, and a removable section cooperating with one of said walls for adapting the holder to support hand sticks of different forms.

4. A combination in accordance with claim 3, wherein the removable section is adapted to cooperate with the front wall of the holder, and wherein said front wall is provided with a lower supporting ledge and a keeper element arranged to engage the removable section or a hand stick directly when the removable section is not in use.

5. A combination in accordance with claim 3, wherein the removable section is provided with a lower supporting ledge and a keeper element arranged to engage a hand stick supported in the holder.

6. In a slug casting machine adapted to be equipped with hand sticks of difierent forms containing matrices of different forms, the combination of a holder for presenting a hand stick with its composed line of matrices in operative relation to the mold and being provided with front and rear walls, a removable section for one of said walls for adapting the holder to support hand sticks of different forms, and means for detachably securing the removable section against endwise displacement in the holder.

7. In a slug casting machine adapted to be equipped with hand sticks of difierent forms containing matrices of difierent forms, the combination of a holder for presenting a hand stick with its composed line of matrices in operative relation to the mold and being provided with front and rear walls, a removable section for one of said walls for adapting the holder to support hand sticks of different forms, and means including a spring detent arranged in the holder and detachably securing the removable section against endwise displacement in the holder.

8. In a slug. casting machine, the combination of a holder for presenting a composed line of matrices in operative relation to the mold, a hand stick in which the matrices are composed and slidable endwise into the holder, and means for ejecting the hand stick from the holder after a casting operation.

9. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a holder for presenting a composed line of matrices in operative relation to the mold, a hand stick in which the matrices are composed and slidable endwise into the holder, and a hand operable sliding element for ejecting the hand stick from the holder after a casting operation.

10. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a holder for presenting a composed line of matrices in operative relation to the mold and comprising front and rear walls between which a hand stick supporting the composed line of matrices is adapted to be positioned, and means including an element slidable between said walls and arranged to engage the hand stick whereby the latter may be ejected from the holder.

11. In or for a slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick equipped with means for preliminarily exerting pressure endwise on a line of matrices composed therein to hold them in the hand stick, and with means operable by one of the regular organs of the machine and independently of the first mentioned means for exerting pressure endwise on the line preparatory to the casting operation.

12. In or for a slug. casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick equipped with an adjustable end wall, means for manually adjusting the wall to clamp a line of matrices in the hand stick, and means operable by one of the regular organs of the machine and independently of the first mentioned means for exerting clamping pressure on the line preparatory to the casting operation.

13. In or for a slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick equipped with an adjustable end wall, a manually operable screw for adjusting the wall to clamp a line of matrices in the hand stick, and means also associated with the adjustable end wall and operable by one of the vise jaws of the machine for exerting clamping pressure on the line preparatory to the casting operation and independently of the first mentioned means.

14. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a hand stick wherein a line of matrices is composed, a holder for presenting the hand stick with its composed line of matrices in operative relation to the mold, the usual pump stop lever, and means acting through the line when of pro-per length and irrespective of the hand stick to operate the pump stop lever and permit the casting operation to proceed.

15. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a hand stick wherein a line of matrices is composed and equipped with a movable end wall, a holder for presenting the hand stick with its composed line of matrices in operative relation to the mold, the usual pump stop lever, and means acting through the movable end wall when the line is of proper length but independently of the movement of the hand stick to operate the pump stop lever and permit the casting operation to proceed.

16. In a slug casting machine equipped with 1'7. In or for a slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick for matrices equipped with notches in at least one of the edges thereof and having one of its fixed walls provided with a slidably adjustable member adapted to engage in the notches formed in the matrices composed in the hand stick to prevent disengagement of the matrices from the hand stick during casting.

18. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a matrix composing hand stick for matrices equipped with notches in at least one of the edges thereof and being provided with a keeper element adapted to be moved into engagement With the notches formed in the matrices composed therein, and means for effecting such movement of the keeper elementas the hand stick is inserted in the machine.

19. In or for a slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick for supporting a composed line of matrices in a holder for presentation to the mold and having one of its fixed Walls provided with a relatively movable member adapted to engage in notches formed in the alining edges of the matrices composed therein toprevent disengagement of the matrices from the hand stick during a casting operation.

20. In a slug casting machine having a holder for presenting a composed line of matrices supported in a hand stick in operative relation to the mold, and wherein the holder is equipped with a removable section for adapting it to support hand sticks of different forms, the combination of a table for alining the hand stick with the holder for transfer thereto, and means for changing the transfer level of the hand sticks depending upon whether the holder is used with or without the removable section.

21. In a slug casting machine having a holder for presenting a composed line of matrices supported in a hand stick in operative relation to the mold, and wherein the holder is equipped with a removable section for adapting it to support hand sticks of different forms, the combination of a table for alining the hand stick with the holder for transfer thereto, and a plate adjustable to active position to support the hand sticks at one transfer level when the holder is equipped with the removable section, and adjustable to inactive position to permit the handsticks to be supported at a different transfer level when the holder is not equipped with the removable section.

22. In a slug casting machine adapted to be equipped with matrices presentable to the mold at diiierent casting levels, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of matrices to the mold, and means adjustable at the will of the operator for arresting the transporter at an infinite number of positions between the upper and lowermost casting levels.

23. In a slug casting machine adapted to be equipped with matrices presentable to the mold at difierent-casting levels, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of matrices to the mold, and means 10 including an adjustable banking block presenting an infinite number of levels throughout its range of adjustment for arresting the transporter at the desired casting level.

24. In a slug casting machine adapted to be 15 equipped with matrices presentable to the mold at different casting levels, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of matrices to the mold, and means including an adjustable banking block having a 20 constant slope for arresting the transporter at any desired casting level.

25. A slug casting machine in accordance with claim 23, wherein the means including the adjustable banking block is provided with a scale 25 graduated in type points for assisting the operator in making the desired adjustments.

26. In a slug casting machine adapted to be equipped with matrices of diiferent forms, and presentable to the mold at different casting levels 30 depending upon the form of the matrices and the size of the characters formed in the casting edges thereof, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of matrices to the mold, and adjustable 5 mechanism for arresting the transporter at the desired casting level, said mechanism including diiferently graduated dials, interchangeable in position with each other in accordance with the form of the matrices in use. 40

27. In a slug casting machine adapted to be equipped with matrices of diiferent forms, and presentable to the mold at different casting levels depending upon the form of the matrices and the size of the characters formed in the 45 casting edges thereof, the combination of a vertically movable transporter for presenting a composed line of matrices to the mold, and adjustable mechanism for arresting the transporter at the desired casting level, said mechanism in- 50 eluding dial means having differently graduated scales for the different forms of matrices and a common pointer for the different scales.

28. In or for a slug casting machine, a matrix composing hand stick comprising fixed side and 55 end Walls, a line clamping member adjacent one fixed end wall, a bushing threaded in the said fixed end wall and arranged to engage the line clamping member, and a pin attached to the line clamping member and projecting through 60 the bushing.

. 29. A matrix composing hand stick as in claim 28, including a retaining element also carried by the fixed end wall and arranged to limit the outward movement of the threaded bushing. 65

ANTHONY J. STOUGES. 

